Leipzig Plagwitz in the south west of the town has been the industrial centre of Leipzig in the 19th and 20th century until the 1990's. When the wall came down and the political and above all the economical system changed, most of the factories (by 1992 it has been 80 %) had to be closed down. The areas, sites and buildings became derelict more and more. From the late 90's on the fallow sites and buildings were gradually refurbished and re-structured into office and flex spaces. The best example here is the old cotton mill, whose old buildings and halls perfectly suit as ateliers for artists, painters, designers, architects. Handicraft businesses, a dance school, gastronomy, arts, culture, individual shops have settled here and classy lofts have been built. Now Plagwitz is again becoming a very hip and popular district.
You can also discover Plagwitz by boat. On the river Elster and on the Karl-Heine-Channel you can canoe yourself or have a motorboat trip through the district with the special flair.